Northeast Harbor, Maine Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 419, Northeast Harbor's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Northeast Harbor is a small community located in Maine, within Hancock County. The total population is 419. It ranks as the 142nd most populous out of 155 Census-designated places in Maine.

Age Demographics

The median age in Northeast Harbor is 58.0 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 44.8 years. Only 2.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Northeast Harbor is $92,415. This is 24% higher than the state median of $74,733. It is also 14% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Northeast Harbor, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $729,700. Housing costs are 146% higher than the state median of $296,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 63.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Northeast Harbor is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 21.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (21.0% vs 1.8%).

Education

63.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Northeast Harbor in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 76% higher than the state rate of 36.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 18.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Northeast Harbor, Maine is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Maine state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 155 Census-designated places in Maine. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.